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John went to go pull on his boots, then waited until Adam came out, overnight bag in hand. He thought he heard Adam whisper something before the boy stepped out of his bedroom. Probably sayinggoodnightto his dad.

“Oh!” Adam gasped, his somber expression vanishing as he looked at the baking pan. “I forgot all about that.Ugh. And now I'mstarving.”

John chuckled. He ushered Adam out the door, then paused on the threshold, glancing down the hallway.Goodnight, Frank. Christ, please forgive me. I love your son and I would never hurt him. At least, not again. I hope you know that.

He swallowed hard, feeling like a fool. It wasn't like he actually believed in ghosts or an afterlife. Logically, he knew Frank wasn't really there. Wasn't watching them. It was just his own shame and regrets that haunted him. Shaking his head, he quickly stepped outside so Adam could lock the door, then they headed out to John's truck. John fired up the engine, waited until Adam was buckled, then pulled out of the parking spot.

The silence in the cab was broken before they reached the street, with Adam darting out a hand to turn on the radio. It was set to the local country station, as usual.

“I have no idea how you listen to this stuff,” Adam teased, only to turn around a moment later and join in with Kenny Chesney, hamming it up as he sang about a sexy tractor.

John laughed, feeling something loosen inside himself as he watched Adam goof off, dancing in his seat. But John quickly stifled his laughter, not wanting anything to interrupt the sound of that angelic voice. Even when Adam was being silly, his voice was pure magic. John couldn't get enough.

Despite his protests against the genre, Adam sang along with almost every song as they made their way out of the city limits and onto the country road that led home. The only exception—and the only time John never argued when Adam changed the station—was when “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!” came on. Adam refused to sing the Shania Twain song, and John couldn't blame him. The poor boy struggled enough with his body as it was. He didn't need any more reminders, no matter how subtle, of what lay beneath his clothes.

When Adam finally switched back to the country station, “Friends in Low Places” was on, and Adam jumped right in to sing along like nothing had happened.

John grinned as he slowed the truck's speed, keeping an eye out for deer and wanting to prolong the experience of Adam's singing. Nothing in the world was as beautiful as that.

He turned up his driveway, the hard-packed dirt meandering between massive oak trees. The driveway branched, and John took the fork to the right. The other fork led up to the main house, which John rented out. The right fork curved off to another section of the property, opening at a small clearing where his little house stood. It was nothing more than a one-bedroom granny unit, but it was perfect for him. Just far enough away from the main house and separated by enough oak trees that he couldn't hear his tenants.

John pulled his truck into the garage, then waited to shut off the engine until Adam had finished the last few lyrics of “Country Roads.” The silence barely settled in when John threw off his seatbelt and leaned across the center console. He grabbed Adam and crushed their mouths together.

“Mmmph!” Adam gave a start, then moaned and melted into the kiss, opening his mouth and letting John thrust his tongue inside.

John let out a shuddering breath as he broke the kiss. “That voice of yours.”

Adam laughed. “We should write another song together. Although, if you're gonna kiss me like that every time I sing, we'll probably never get one finished.”

John chuckled even as he tugged on the waistband of his jeans, trying to give his growing cock more room. “If you only knew,” he growled, thinking back ten years. Back when he and Adam would spend whole weekends, sitting on the floor in the living room of John's childhood home, John playing guitar whileAdam sang. “I swear, sometimes I kept that guitar in my lap just so I wouldn't launch myself across the room and pin you to the floor.”

Adam's eyes darkened. “And we haven't done that nowwhy? Shit. I just realized we haven't done a single jam session since we got together.” He paused with a smirk. “Too busy making up for all that lost time in the bedroom, I guess.”

John growled under his breath, having to adjust himself again. “Get inside.”

Adam flew out of the truck, snatched his things from the back seat, and disappeared inside the house.

John hurried to join him, hoping all the while that Frank wouldn't follow.

Chapter 4

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ADAM

ADAM LURCHED to a stop just inside the door from the garage. The promise of sex still thrummed in his veins, making him desperate to run for the bedroom, but he knew the rules. He set the lasagna dish and his overnight bag on top of a small table, then took off his shoes and placed them neatly on the shoe rack. At his own apartment, he would have simply kicked off his shoes and not cared where they landed. But here, the simple, quiet ritual of obeying John's need for order? It helped settle something inside of him. Quieting the chaos in his head.

As much as he really wanted John to spend the night in his own bed for a change, Adam had to admit helovedbeing here. In John's space. Part of John's world. It was something he'd bitterly missed all through the eight years they'd been apart. Of course, back then, all he and John ever did was hang out in John's living room, writing songs together. Now, they were free to give in to their attraction.

Adam carried the lasagna dish over to the kitchen and popped it into the oven to keep it warm, then turned back for his overnight bag.

He came up short at the sight of John's wine collection, and a tremor ran through his hands. Adam tightened his grip on his overnight bag and shoved his other hand into his pocket. He had no idea how long he stood there, staring at the neat row of bottles, barely aware of soft sounds behind him.

“You want a drink?” John murmured.

Adam gave a start and whirled around, pressing a hand to his chest. “Shit. I didn't realize you were so close.”

John's brow furrowed. “Everything okay?”

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